What are your rights as a victim?

What resources are available to me as a victim?

Can I come to a hearing and speak in court?

Are you owed money?

What if I receive a subpoena?

1. What is a subpoena?
A subpoena is an order from the court compelling the person named on the subpoena to appear in court at the date and time stated on the subpoena to testify in a minor's case.

2. What do I do when I receive the subpoena?
The subpoena will instruct you on what to do. However, generally you will need to call the San Diego County District Attorney's Office at the phone number listed on the subpoena. Then you will need to appear at the location listed on the subpoena at the date and time it specifies.

3. Do I get reimbursed for coming to court?
If your subpoena directs you to appear at the Juvenile Courthouse located at 2851 Meadow Lark Drive, San Diego, CA 92123, you will be reimbursed for your mileage (if you drive) or for how much it cost you to take public transportation, depending on which way you travel to get to court, and you will receive a witness fee. If you drive, you will not be given money for parking because parking is free in the parking lot adjacent to the Juvenile Courthouse.

If your subpoena directs you to appear at the Downtown Courthouse located at 220 West Broadway, San Diego, CA 92101, you will be reimbursed for your mileage and for parking, up to $18 (if you drive). If you take public transportation, you will be reimbursed for the cost of taking public transportation to court. Please note that whether you drive or whether you take public transportation to court, you will receive a witness fee for appearing.

What if I want to obtain records from the Court?

Juvenile Court proceedings are confidential and are (in most cases) not open to the public. However, as a victim you are entitled to be present for the hearings on the case in which you are a victim. Your right to be present for the hearing does not entitle you, under the law, to obtain most records in regards to the case. Nevertheless, a victim can obtain copies of stay away orders or police reports from the Juvenile Court Business Office. Please visit the Juvenile Court Business Office, located at 2851 Meadow Lark Drive, 2nd Floor - Room 224, San Diego, CA 92123 (858-634-1600), to obtain and fill out the proper forms to get copies of such documents.

Who can I talk to?

Our Victim Advocate assigned to the Juvenile Division is Carmen Cereceda , (858) 694-4595.